The Navy SEALs and rescue divers are moving forward towards the deepest chamber of the Luang Cave this morning, where they hope to find the 12 youth soccer players and their coach who have been trapped inside the cave since June 23.
After the rescuers established a base deep inside the passageway of the cave, located in Chiang Rai’s Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park, the team is expected to reach an airy chamber called Pattaya Beach today where they believe the soccer team, consisting of boys aged 11 to 16, has taken refuge, according to Thairath.
Last night, rescuers placed extra oxygen tanks, strong ropes and LED lights along the cave’s walls, providing a path to the chamber. AFP reported last night that the team has advanced 600 meters from the base towards the Pattaya site — while heavy drilling at separate chimneys outside the cave has started in an attempt to establish communication with the boys.
However, at press time, there has been no update whether the efforts to communicate with the the boys have been successful or not.
Meanwhile, water draining efforts have continued. As of this morning, there are three high-water pressure pumps. They’ve also drilled 200-meter-deep holes into the ground to speed up the water drainage.
The efforts have caused the floodwater to gradually decrease and become clear. However, the cloudy skies this morning suggest it might rain again.
The alternative rescue plan — searching for another entrance from the top of the mountain — also continues.
The plight of the soccer team and the mission to rescue them has rapidly gained worldwide attention. More than 1,000 cave rescuer experts and divers from various nations, including the UK, US, Australia, China, Laos, Japan, and Myanmar, have gathered at the site,
Yesterday in Vatican City, Pope Francis led a prayer for peace for different regions of the world and included prayers for the Thai soccer team’s safety
Related:
Thai rescuers establish base deep inside cave where boys trapped
Trapped Thai soccer team spend eighth night in flooded cave as weather eases
Divers progress in search for missing Thai soccer team
Hope as divers find possible opening to rescue trapped Thai soccer team
EXCLUSIVE: Divers don’t have enough oxygen to reach chamber where soccer team trapped, rescuer says
Cave where youth soccer team believed trapped has its own legends
Search and rescue efforts to find missing soccer team continue as anxious parents pray
Navy SEALs sent into Chiang Rai cave in search of missing youth soccer team
Reader Interactions